Part 1 of a panel discussion on the long-term well-being effects of surrogacy / a look at psychological, medical, and legal considerations

This panel was part of the 10th Annual NY Men Having Babies Surrogacy Seminar & Gay Parenting Expo, 11.2.14

A panel of 6 experts discussed the long-term well-being of all the people involved in surrogacy: parents, surrogates, donors and, most importantly, the children.
In this part panelists addressed the following questions, among others:
* How do the children born via surrogacy turn out, emotionally, psychologically and educationally? What does the latest research tell us about our children versus children born into more conventional families?
* Are there any current medical or emotional concerns regarding the well being of surrogates and egg donors?

Speakers:
Professor Susan Golombok, Centre for Family Research at the University of Cambridge
Professor Golombok's research examines the impact of new family forms on parenting and child development, specifically LGBT headed families created by assisted reproductive technologies including surrogacy.
Dr. Georges Sylvestre
Dr. Sylvestre-Margolis is the Chairman of OB-GYN and specializes in High-Risk Obstetrics. He is a member of the his hospital's Ethics Committee, a MHB board member, and a two-times surrogacy dad.
Dr. Michael Doyle, CT Fertility
IVF expert , past speaker on "Ethics in Queer Family Formation" (Stonewall Foundation, NY 2012), and "Surrogacy - Ethical Journeys" (ADFH, Paris 2011).
Moderator: Ron Poole-Dayan, executive director, Men Having Babies

The featured speaker was Professor Susan Golombok from the Centre for Family Research at the University of Cambridge. She presented the results of the only longitudinal study of surrogacy families and surrogates ever conducted. Dr. Golombok’s research on the impact of new family forms on parenting and child development has been widely referenced during recent court battles for marriage equality. She is a globally recognized expert who has published over 170 scholarly articles.
Dr. Georges Sylvestre and Dr. Michael Doyle spoke about emerging best practices that can minimize risks and maximize the wellbeing of everyone involved in surrogacy.

The goal of this program was to help prospective parents, surrogates, donors and practitioners make informed decisions about the various aspects of the process. Rather than pass judgement or provide a definitive set of rules, panelists discussed evidence about the way surrogacy affects the involved parties, and suggest practices that minimize the risks and maximize the potential short and long-term benefits to all involved.

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The 2014 NYC Men Having Babies conference took place on November 2, 2014, at the JCC Manhattan, also a co-sponsor. Over two hundred parents, prospects and professionals enjoyed 11 hours of educational programs. Thirty five clinics, agencies and community organizations exhibited at the expo, hosted breakout sessions, and offered on-site consultations. MHB provides unparalleled opportunities for any gay person considering having children through surrogacy, to get unbiased information, access a wide range of relevant service providers, and connect with others going through the process. Special afternoon programs included a panel of teenage children born via surrogacy to gay dads, and a panel on the long term well-being effects of surrogacy and the effort to change the restrictive surrogacy laws in the state of NY. Proceeds from the conference benefited the organization’s Gay Parenting Assistance Program.

Check this channel for several more clips from this event.